Abandoned Vehicles

The Santa Clara Police Department offers an Abandoned Vehicle Hotline, which allows citizens to report any vehicle(s) that they believe are abandoned. The hotline number is (408) 615-4778 and is available 24/7. We are pleased to announce that citizens can also report abandoned vehicles on line using the form found below.

Please read the following before reporting a vehicle as abandoned.

Santa Clara Municipal Code Section 10.05.470 prohibits parking or storage of any vehicle(s) on a public street for more than 72 consecutive hours. Excluded from the City's abatement program are: any vehicle(s) parking or stored on private streets, commercial properties and/or rental housing properties, including parking lots. Under California Vehicle Code Section 22658, it is the financial and legal responsibility of the private property owner to deal with abandoned vehicles on their property.

Santa Clara Municipal Code Section 10.10.010 prohibits the storage of any abandoned, disabled, dismantled or inoperative vehicle(s) or parts thereof on private single-family residential properties in a location where they would be visible from the public right-of-way. Such violations may be declared to constitute a public nuisance for criminal, civil and/or administrative abatement actions.

Non-compliance will result in the issuance of citations and/or towing of the vehicle. All costs for citations, towing, storage fees, and city vehicle release fees must be paid by the vehicle owner before the vehicle will be released.

Once reported, the Police Department Traffic Division will assign abandoned vehicle complaints to Community Service Officers to begin the abatement process. The police department will then take the necessary steps to ensure that the problem is resolved.